Rain has returned to many parts of the country over the past week, but remains very localised, with some areas having received no rainfall at all.
The north-south/east-west split has returned and many tillage areas along the western seaboard received heavy rain over the weekend. Harvest progress in these areas has been staggered due to the wet conditions.
Record time
However, further south and east, good progress has been made, with some growers finishing the harvest in record early time.
The majority of the country's winter wheat is largely complete, with average yields back across the board.
Around 80% to 90% of the country's malting crops have been cut and protein levels appear to have improved slightly as the harvest progressed.
A period of settled weather would allow much of the remaining spring barley crops to be harvested, although crops around the midlands and northeast have been slower to ripen.
The spring oats harvest is also progressing well, with average yields also back across the board.
Spring barley
Mikey Byrne from Kiltealy in Co. Wexford has contractor John Crane and his son Sean in harvesting a crop of spring barley. The crop is planet and was planted in late April.
Good progress with spring barley has been made in the south and many growers are now finished with the crop.
However, large pockets of crops remain to be harvested in areas with crops sown on heavier ground due to be harvested in the coming week.
Further north, areas around the midlands have reported the spring barley harvest to be 30% to 40% complete, which is similar for crops around the Meath area.
This increases to 50% as you progress further northeast. The spring barley harvest has yet to fully commence in the northwest.
Spring barley yields are largely as expected, with most growers back to 1.0t to 1.5t/ac in yield.
Yields: Average barley yields remain in the range of 2.2t to 2.4t/ac, but these range from extremes of 1.0t to over 3.8t/ac.
Specific weights: Specific weights ranging from 62 to 70 KPH are now commonly reported.
Moisture: Moistures remain mixed, with reports further south coming in at below 15% and further north at 16% to 18%. However, extremes range from 12% to 23%.
Proteins: Proteins are generally high, with many growers reporting percentages above 12. However, many loads of between 10% to 11% are still passing.
Straw: Straw yields are equally as mixed, with reports of between four and eight 4x4 bales to the acre. Prices remain firm. Average prices currently being paid are around €30 4x4 bales/acre.
Spring oats
Spring oats has also progressed well over the past number of weeks, with crops ripening for many growers around the same time as spring barley crops. In some cases, spring oats have burnt in and were harvested immediately after winter oats. Average yields are back, but quality is good and moistures are low.
Yields: Yields remain mixed, ranging from 2.0t to 2.8t/ac.
Specific weights: Weights are ranging from extremes of 48 to 55 KPH, with indicative averages in the region of 53 KPH.
Moistures: Moistures are also variable, ranging from extremes of 15% to 22%.
Winter wheat
The winter wheat harvest has largely wrapped up across the country.
Most growers reported a smooth harvest and, in many cases, straw was baled straight after the combine.
Yields were mixed, but quality was very good across the board.
Where reasonable yields were recorded, straw yields were also up accordingly.
Yields: Average winter wheat yields remain in the range of 3.2t to 3.5t/ac, but these range from extremes of 2.5t to over 4.8t/ac.
Specific weights: Specific weights ranging from 75 to 80 KPH are now commonly reported.
Moisture: Moisture averages remain close to 14% to 16%.
Straw: Straw yields remain mixed, ranging from seven to 13 4x4 round bales/acre.
Spring crop straw yields are significantly back in areas as expected. Yields are ranging from four to eight 4x4 square bales/acre for both barley and oat straw. Winter wheat straw yields are in the region of seven to 13 4x4 bales/ac.
Prices reported for barley straw which was traded over the past seven days ranges from €30 to €35 for a 4x4 round bale from the field. Oaten and wheat straw reports are mixed, with some growers implementing a flat price across all straw types, while others are setting oaten and wheat straw price just under barley straw price. Oilseed rape straw is reported to be trading for €20 to €25 for a 4x4 round bale from the field. Read more
County breakdown: farmers who received crop loss compensation
Catch cropping in the southeast
Rain has returned to many parts of the country over the past week, but remains very localised, with some areas having received no rainfall at all.
The north-south/east-west split has returned and many tillage areas along the western seaboard received heavy rain over the weekend. Harvest progress in these areas has been staggered due to the wet conditions.
Record time
However, further south and east, good progress has been made, with some growers finishing the harvest in record early time.
The majority of the country's winter wheat is largely complete, with average yields back across the board.
Around 80% to 90% of the country's malting crops have been cut and protein levels appear to have improved slightly as the harvest progressed.
A period of settled weather would allow much of the remaining spring barley crops to be harvested, although crops around the midlands and northeast have been slower to ripen.
The spring oats harvest is also progressing well, with average yields also back across the board.
Spring barley
Mikey Byrne from Kiltealy in Co. Wexford has contractor John Crane and his son Sean in harvesting a crop of spring barley. The crop is planet and was planted in late April.
Good progress with spring barley has been made in the south and many growers are now finished with the crop.
However, large pockets of crops remain to be harvested in areas with crops sown on heavier ground due to be harvested in the coming week.
Further north, areas around the midlands have reported the spring barley harvest to be 30% to 40% complete, which is similar for crops around the Meath area.
This increases to 50% as you progress further northeast. The spring barley harvest has yet to fully commence in the northwest.
Spring barley yields are largely as expected, with most growers back to 1.0t to 1.5t/ac in yield.
Yields: Average barley yields remain in the range of 2.2t to 2.4t/ac, but these range from extremes of 1.0t to over 3.8t/ac.
Specific weights: Specific weights ranging from 62 to 70 KPH are now commonly reported.
Moisture: Moistures remain mixed, with reports further south coming in at below 15% and further north at 16% to 18%. However, extremes range from 12% to 23%.
Proteins: Proteins are generally high, with many growers reporting percentages above 12. However, many loads of between 10% to 11% are still passing.
Straw: Straw yields are equally as mixed, with reports of between four and eight 4x4 bales to the acre. Prices remain firm. Average prices currently being paid are around €30 4x4 bales/acre.
Spring oats
Spring oats has also progressed well over the past number of weeks, with crops ripening for many growers around the same time as spring barley crops. In some cases, spring oats have burnt in and were harvested immediately after winter oats. Average yields are back, but quality is good and moistures are low.
Yields: Yields remain mixed, ranging from 2.0t to 2.8t/ac.
Specific weights: Weights are ranging from extremes of 48 to 55 KPH, with indicative averages in the region of 53 KPH.
Moistures: Moistures are also variable, ranging from extremes of 15% to 22%.
Winter wheat
The winter wheat harvest has largely wrapped up across the country.
Most growers reported a smooth harvest and, in many cases, straw was baled straight after the combine.
Yields were mixed, but quality was very good across the board.
Where reasonable yields were recorded, straw yields were also up accordingly.
Yields: Average winter wheat yields remain in the range of 3.2t to 3.5t/ac, but these range from extremes of 2.5t to over 4.8t/ac.
Specific weights: Specific weights ranging from 75 to 80 KPH are now commonly reported.
Moisture: Moisture averages remain close to 14% to 16%.
Straw: Straw yields remain mixed, ranging from seven to 13 4x4 round bales/acre.
Spring crop straw yields are significantly back in areas as expected. Yields are ranging from four to eight 4x4 square bales/acre for both barley and oat straw. Winter wheat straw yields are in the region of seven to 13 4x4 bales/ac.
Prices reported for barley straw which was traded over the past seven days ranges from €30 to €35 for a 4x4 round bale from the field. Oaten and wheat straw reports are mixed, with some growers implementing a flat price across all straw types, while others are setting oaten and wheat straw price just under barley straw price. Oilseed rape straw is reported to be trading for €20 to €25 for a 4x4 round bale from the field. Read more
County breakdown: farmers who received crop loss compensation
Catch cropping in the southeast
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